Keep Evolvin'
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KEEP EVOLVIN' TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR, WE ARE TRANSFORMING UNEMPLOYED WOMEN from Africa into the next generation of managers and leaders. ANNUAL COMMUNICATION ON PROGRESS 2019 THE EVOLUTION Helping unemployed women find a place in society through hospitality and sustainable tourism. 2019 was the year of tracking 2 and monitoring inputs and Evolvin' Women at glance outputs while growing our network of partners. 5 Global Compact Principles Establishing partnerships with PwC Academy, Amity University 9 and strengthening existing Corporate citizenship strategy and approach partnerships with Accenture, Accor, Hilton and Radisson, has enabled our operation to be ready for 100 women to 16 enrol in 2020. Outcomes This year in line with our commitment to ethical governance we have appointed an independent auditor, 17 transferred our licence to Dubai Multi Commodities Performance Table - goals and Centre (DMCC) and introduced an Anti-Bribery and Anti- progress Corruption policy. We have also completed phase one for the design of our first Hub in Africa in alignment with SDG #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, and launched a social entrepreneurship course for particpants interested in addressing social and environmental issues in their communities and achievement of SDGs. With social impact at the core of our enterprise, working towards implementing the Global Compact principles is what drives our business. The Evolvin' Women annual COP is part of our commitment to the United Nations Global Compact. Keep evolvin' Assia Riccio Founder Evolvin' Women Grow with us... one woman at the time! E V O L V I N ' W O M E N C O P 2 0 1 9 | 1 EVOLVIN' WOMEN AT GLANCE Established in 2017 and based in Dubai, Evolvin’ Women aims at building sustainable economies in developing countries through the advancement of women with limited access to education and skill development. Evolvin’ Women was born to address this social issue by providing corporates with a socially responsible solution to their recruitment and CSR needs, while helping governments in developing countries reduce female unemployment by investing in a study abroad programme for unemployed women from rural areas. We currently operate in Ghana, South Africa and Rwanda with expansion plans in Kenya and Zambia in 2020. In 2018, 11 women enrolled in our programme and have had access to international skill development placements in Dubai with a view to securing a job back in their home country at the end of the programme. In 2019, we decided to monitor the programme, expand our network of partners and prepare for 100 women to enrol in 2020. Countries Evolvin' Women has been presented as a of operation sustainable tourism initiative at the Women's 3 Economic Empowerment Global Summit by the UN WOMEN, the African Women in Tourism Summit, the Arabian Travel Market in Global Dubai and at the ChangeNOW Summit in Partners France where Evolvin' Women was selected by 35 the Dubai Government to represent Dubai on sustainability. Programmes Evolvin’ Women has also been proud to in the pipeline support the United Nations Sustainable 6 Development Goals (SDGs) #4 Quality Education, #5 Gender Equality and #8 Decent Work, to be one of the first micro-enterprises Training to become a signatory of the United Nations hours delivered Global Compact (UNGC) and chair the steering 2322 committee in the UAE to deliver the 7 Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), the result of collaboration between UN Women and the UNGC. E V O L V I N ' W O M E N | 32 THE SOCIAL ISSUE - THE WHY In Africa, where female unemployment rates can reach 50% in rural areas, meeting our vision is crucial to building sustainable economies, intensifying the fight against extreme poverty, and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. According to the World Bank: ISSUE INTERVENTION OUTCOME Finances & social norms Less than a 1/3 of High Female determine if a woman vocational training unemployment rates, continues training. Catching generates employment. only 29% of senior up with skills development in Even those that are management roles are adult life becomes a successful are costly, with held by women and only challenge leaving women in a returns that rarely justify 5% of CEOs are female vulnerable position governments’ investment. due to the small pool of compared to men. female candidates. Our Theory of Change at a glance Evolvin' Women Model A sustainable ecosystem We believe that by bringing together the public and private sectors to deliver a programme with employment and transferable skills as outcomes, Logistics Job opportunities Training Venues Skill development we will enable unemployed women to increase their Rural areas access Evolvin' Women Education economic participation. Endorsement Funding Though a rigorous selection process, preparation Women training and 2-years of professional training and mentoring, women gain a level of experience that Governments Corporates will allow them to be fully equipped to enter full time employment in their home country. Policy making Cooperation Corporate Citizenship E V O L V I N ' W O M E N C O P 2 0 1 9 | 3 THE SOCIAL ISSUE - THE HOW By implementing our Theory of Change we provide a solution to the challenges faced by both private and public sectors: The challenge for governments The challenge for corporates Governments in Africa are working towards While governments are addressing the issue increasing women’s economic participation and of women's unemployment, the private sector is their representation in senior management roles addressing the challenge of finding projects that through capacity building programmes. Yet these increase their social impact participation and programs are not yielding results sufficient to position them as trusted corporate citizens. address the problem. By providing: Logistics Job opportunities Training Venues Skill development Access to rural areas Education Endorsement Funding Evolvin' Women can deliver a 27 month employability programme inclusive of: Application & selection process 3 month Preparation training 2 years of professional and personal development Mentoring Support network Access to full time jobs Impact reporting Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Nigeria Rwanda AREAS OF WORK TODAY South Africa WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS COMMUNITY We are developing the next We are developing the next We are developing the next generation of female generation of female generation of self-sustained professionals through social entrepreneurs through communities through and economic empowerment. training and market access. innovation and new income. E V O L V I N ' W O M E N C O P 2 0 1 9 | 4 GLOBAL COMPACT PRINCIPLES Evolvin’ Women is currently working within the framework of the United Nations Global Compact. We are actively committed to all ten of these principles. Below is an outline of how we are executing policies and actions to ensure we comply with these principles. E V O L V I N ' W O M E N C O P 2 0 1 9 | 5 HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES Principle 1: Businesses As per our policy, Evolvin’ Women works closely with the Government of should support and the United Arab Emirates and foreign country Embassies in Dubai to protect women while they are in the UAE. Women have access to medical respect the protection of insurance, work visa, a suitable means of travel to and from their place of internationally work, suitable accommodation, and competitive remuneration for the proclaimed human rights duration of the programme. Principle 2: make sure We have monthly "Sit at the table" workshops aimed at providing our participants with a seat at the table, an opportunity for them to be heard that they are not and to make a difference. We also have monthly calls with every complicit in human rights participant for the duration of the programme. We ask questions to find abuses out if there are any incident of bullying and abuse while working with our hotel partners. The monthly contact policy is to ensure there are no abuses of power and if situations are brought to our attention an investigation is launched and monitored. Mentors are also called on a monthly basis to find out similar information. Our workshops provide our participants with a safe environment to share and address challenges. E V O L V I N ' W O M E N C O P 2 0 1 9 | 6 LABOUR PRINCIPLES Principle 3: Businesses Our supply chain policy, allows us to work only with licensed organisations should uphold the freedom and ensures that our hotel partners work in compliance with the UAE labor law. The business conducted within Evolvin’ Women gives of association and the participants the flexibility to control their participation. The training and effective recognition of the tasks assigned are provided with a flexible timeframe so particpants can right to collective learn at their own pace and get the most out of the tools at their bargaining disposal. Principle 4: the elimination Evolvin’ Women works closely with its partners in Dubai and foreign countries to ensure that participants are motivated, dedicated and willing of all forms of forced and to improve their quality of education and seek other means of compulsory labour employment. As per our policy, participants travel to Dubai when they have an employment contract and work visa according to the UAE Labour Law; they make the decision to come based on the contract they reviewed and signed. Therefore they can stay up to 2 years but are free to resign at their own discretion. They also have access to their Embassy in the UAE. When our participants return to their home countries, they are not forced into employment but are rather given the opportunity to decide what industry-specific field is most appropriate and enjoyable. Principle 5: the effective Evolvin’ Women does not associate itself with brands, companies or abolition of child labour entities that have a history of possible or proven child labour to our best knowledge.